If you're a friend or neighbor of China, be prepared to die — or to be driven to murder one of her other friends or neighbors.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comments_05/witches_bane.html

This mystery was well put-together and complex. I love Albert’s Cottage Tales and Darling Dahlias, but this series just doesn’t draw me in as much. I found it relatively tedious, and except for a few bits, not rich in characters or setting.

(2nd China Bayles)

I like this series although it's not one of my favorites. This entry was interesting because of it's specific brand of early Nineties feminism. (There's lots of talk about goddess religion, therapy groups, rediscovering of self etc. etc.) The mystery itself was pretty well done although I called the culprit the minute they came on the scene. I like that the main character's issues were treated seriously and not just resolved through the lovin' of a good man. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

This second book was not nearly as enjoyable as the first. The plot was mainly China investigating the murder. In the first book I enjoyed hearing about her town and the people in it more than the criminal investigation. I really missed that in this book. I also was expecting a lot of atmosphere around the autumn season, but we hardly got any of that. I still enjoy the complex characters, and will be trying the third book.

Re-read 10/14/14